Abstract:

Information on spatial and temporal patterns of forest fires contributes to effective fire management. Based on data of the forest fires occurred in Heilongjiang Province from 1980 to 2005, the spatial and temporal distribution of forest fires was studied by using of statistical analysis and spatial analysis method. The results indicated that forest fires fluctuated obviously year to year. The burned area was somewhat correlated with the total number of fires. The number of spring fires and the burned area contributed 72.52% and 84.39% to the total fires and area, respectively. The number of summer fires and the burned area were relatively less and smaller. Fall had a short fire season. Heihe city had the greatest number of forest fires and the Daxing’an Mountains region had the largest burned area in the 13 administrative regions studied. The Daxing’an Mountains had the highest fire frequency and the largest burned area over the 5 landscape areas, and its fire burned area accounted for 89.42% of the total. The fire frequency showed a reducing trend with altitude rise in the mountainous areas. The forest fire occurrence and the spatial and temporal variation are useful information for classing the forest fire danger rank and forecasting forest fires, and the information would have important theoretical and practical significance for efficient management in forest fire fighting and prevention.

Key words: forest fire, Heilongjiang Province, spatial and temporal characteristics